Manufacture of metal wheels



Sept. 8,, 1 925.

. 1,552,573 C. SCHENCK ET AL MANUFACTURE OF METAL WHEELS Filed June 17, 1920 4 s-Sheet 1 INVENTOR S Q L 8y 74%;,

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C. SCHENCK ET AL MANUFACTURE OF METAL WHEELS d June 17. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MJM Sept 8, 1925.

1,552,573 C. SCHENCK ET-AL I MANUFACTURE OF METAL WHEELS Filed June 17, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i fl 0 4 4 l 1 3 ".31 iii? M :H 55 6 an m U g1 40 38 K i 38 j g Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SCHEN CK, LEWIS FINE, AND EMIL IBACH, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF METAL W HEELS.

Application filed June 17, 1920. Serial No. 889,754.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that we, CHARLES SCHENCK and LEWIS FINE, citizens of the United States, and EMILlnAoH, a citizen of the Republic of Germany, all residing at Bethle hem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, have jointly invented new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Metal \Vheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective of a metal beam of ashape suitable for conversion into'a pair of wheels; Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of punching mechanism for apertur ing the beam to form spokes; Fig. 3 shows in plan and section the beam after the spoke-forming operation; Fig. 4 is an elevation o fl mechanism for coining the edges of the apertures in the beam; Fig, 5 shows in plan and section the beam after the edgesof the spoke-spacing apertures have'been coined; Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of mechanism for simultaneously cutting the beam in half and for completing the shaping of thespokes; Fig. 7 is a plan showing in section the centering and punch ing mechanism of Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 show in plan beams cut by modified forms of punching and spoke Shaping mechanisms; Fig. 10 isan elevation-of mechanism for staggering or bending the spokes alternately to form two sets of spokes; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of spoke-bending mechanism about to operate upon the spokes; Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but with the spokebending operation completed; Fig. 13 is a plan of the half section of the beam after the spoke-bending operation; Fig. 14 is an elevation of the mechanism for bending the ends of the wheel blank; Fig. 15 is an elevation similar to Fig. 14 but after the end bending operation has been completed; Fig. 16 is a section on lines XVI-XVI of Fig. 14; Fig. 17 is an elevation of mecha-f and comprises punching or cutting out the web of the beam or sheet in such manner that the intervening metal is in the shape of spokes, then staggering or bending the spokes alternately into two sets and finally 1n bending the wheel into wheel shape and enclosing between the alternately bent spokes a spoke spacing member. Our in vention also consists in the. various features whlch we shall hereinafter describe and claim. 4

Referring to the drawings, Al indicates a metal beam havin flanges a and web b, which, as is shown in Fig. 2, is placed on a die block 2 under the punches 3, which punch out the metal, forming apertures 2 and leaving the intervening metal between the apertures in the form of spokes 5, as shown in Fig. 3. As the punches 3 rise after forming the apertures 4 the beam is stripped from them by the stationary stripper plate.

6, which is positioned immediately above the beam and is apertured at 7 to allow the punches 3 to pass therethrough. To have shown the beam as arranged to beadvanced step by step from one punching position to another by hand or by any suitable advancmg mechanism so that the operation may be repeated, thus aperturing the beam atregularly spaced intervals, as is shown in Fig. 3, but if desired any number of apertures may be punched out in one operation.

The beam, as is shown in Fig. 4, is next passed under the coining punches 8, which round oif the edges of the metal about the apertures 4, the beam after the coining operation being shown in Fig. 5.

To complete the form of the spokes 5 and r an are 5 in the end of a spoke of each half section, thus simultancouslv forming four side and two end faces on four spokes in the area. of the hub. A stripper plate 12 with operation. The spoke ends are cut in keystone shape so that in the subsequent. bending operations they may be formed into complete annuli about the hub of the wheel.

In Fig. 8 we have shown a modified form of punch 11 in which the faces of the spokes are formed with an end of the punch in advance, so that the forward end 11 forms the side faces 5 between the ends of two adjacent spokes on one half of the beam while its rear end 11 is cutting apart adjacent spokes one step to the rear on the other half of the beam and-at the same time outs arcs 5 on opposite spoke ends in the two halves of the beam.

In Fig. 9 we have shown a further modification of punch 11 arranged to operate on a beam, in which the spokes 5 of one half are staggered with reference to the spokes 5 of the other half and in which the faces of the punch notonly are staggered with reference to cutting apart and forming end side faces 5 on the adjacent .spokes'of one half of the beam but also are staggered with reference to forming the arc-shaped faces 5 on the spoke ends.

After the beam has been severed intohalf sections with spokes formed thereon, the spokes of each half section are staggered or bent alternately to form two sets, as is shown in Figs-'10, 11, 12 and 13. A half section of a beam is placed, in the holder 13, with a flan e a of the beam in the space 13 between the die block 14 and the holder 13. The block has a projection 15, intended to engage the beam adjacent the flange and limit the bending of the spokes adjacent the flange, and raised and depressed portions lfiand 17, respectively, each of slightly greater width than the keystone portion of a spoke. The punch holder 18 has punches 19, 20 ar ranged at different levels complementary to the depressed and raised portions 16 and 17 on the die, and also has a projection 21 corresponding to the projection 15 on the die block 14, which is intended to engage the opposite side of the beam. The side of the punch 19 is cut away at 22 to provide clearance for the upper portion of flange. \Vit-h the beam section in position, and with two spokes 5 centered on the portions 16 and 17 of the die block 14, as is shown in Fig. 11, the'punch descends and forces the beam down to the position shown in Fig. 12, the spokes being bent in opposite directions as shown. The beam is then raised to clear the die part 16 and is moved forward until the next two spokes are in position over the dies, when the operation is repeated.

The next operation is the partial bending" of the wheel blank, which, as is shown in "allel and adjacent relation.

the beam means Figs. 14, 15 and 16, may be accomplished as follows: The wheel blank is placed in a two-- part die block 23 having'inward projections 24, the upper faces of which act as a support for the rim flanges a and provide an anvil of the shapeto which the rim flange is to be bent. The projections 24 are cut away or dished at 25 so as not to interfere with the sets of staggered spokes. The ends 26 of the projections are struck on arcs of a circle,

- mately 90, and the faces 5 of the'alternate spokes are broughtintoa substantially par- The forming die 27 is then withdrawn and the beam removed from the die blocks 23.

The wheel blank with its curved ends is next placed in the two-part die block 29, shown in Fig. 17, the projections 30 of which are circular in shape, in diameter correspond to the diameter of the inside of the rim of the finished wheel, and act as a support for the inner faces of the rim flange as it is being bent. The projections 30 are dished out at 31 to provide clearance for the staggered spokes. Between the projections 30 and mounted on the mandrel 32, supported in one of the projections 30 and its adjacent half die block 29, is a spoke spacing member 33. When the beam is placed in the die holder, with its flanges a resting on the circular projections 30, its sets of staggered spokes will fall either side of the spacer member 33. The pressing mechanism consists in the cams 34, which are pivoted at 35 to the press 36, which operatcs'in the press frame 37. The cams have faces 38 corresponding to arcs of a circle the dian1eter of which is substantially the diameter of the-finished wheel. At the ends of the. faces 38 are arranged anti-friction rollers 39, 39'. The cams have shoulders 40. which in open position bear against projections 41 on the press. Arranged in slots 42 in the cams 34, and pivoted thereto, are the link rods 43. The upperends of the link rods '43 pass through apertures in 'the bracket 44, which is attached to the press frame 37. The rods are provided with the collars 45' and 46, which limit the movement of the rods through the bracket 44.

With the Wheel blank in position in the two-partdie block 29, as described above. the rollers 39 of the cams, as the cams de scend, will engage the flange of the wheel blank and force the wheel blank toward and around the circumference of the projections 30. The shoulders 40 remain in engagement with the projections41 until the rollers 39' engage the flange of the wheel blank, and as the rods 43 will have simultaneously reached the limit of their downward movement provided by the collars 45, the further downward movement of the press 36 relative to its frame 37 will cause the rods 43 torotate the cams 34 about their axes 35. Then as the press continues to descend the arc-shaped faces 38 of the cams 34 will gradually enclose the projections 30 and will press the wheel blank into the form of a complete circle, the spokes will assume the positions of radii of the circle, and will take about and enclose the spacer member 33 between them, as is shown in Fig. 19. The spokes in the area of the hub will accordingly assume the form of two complete annuli, the faces 5 of each spoke of one set being practically in side contact with the adjacent spoke, and the ends 5 of each set of spokes forming substantially a complete ring about the hub opening and the set of spokes enclosing be tween them the spoke spacer member \Vhen the mandrel has been removed the die blocks 29 are moved apart and the beam in the shape of a wheel and its enclosed spoke spacer member are then. removed.

The ends are then welded together and, after being trued, the wheel is ready for the application of the hub and tire.

In forming the wheel we prefer not to bring the side faces of the ends of the spokes too closely into contact, sothat when the wheel is trued or brought to size there may be some leeway for reduction in size.

It will be seen that the method which we have described of aperturing and cutting beams into sections, each of which is later formed into a complete wheel,- and at the same time forming complete spokes, and the subsequent forming into complete wheels, results in the production of wheels very cheaply and efiiciently.

The method which we have described for bending blank into wheel shapes may also be employed on flanged wheel blanks with alternately disposed spokes, however they may be formed. I

The terms and expressions which we have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and we have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions.

thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible with-in the scope of the. invention claimed.

What we claim is: p 1. The process for making wheels from flanged beams or sheets which comprises forming the wheel blank with alternately bent spokes, then applying force on the exterior surface of .the flanged portion of the blank and thereby bending the ends of the blank into arcs of a circle corresponding substantially to the circumference of the rim of a finished wheel, and then applying force on the exterior of the intermediate portion of-the blank and thereby bending that por-. tion pf theblank to conform to the curvature of the previously bent ends to complete the form of the wheel and to enclose between the alternately bent spokes a spoke spacing member. a

2. The process of making wheels from a metal blank having a web which consists in punching two parallel rows of spoke-defining apertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of aperturesbeing separated by a medial' portion of the web, in cutting from the medial portion of the web keystone inner ends for the spoke elements in order to separate the inner spoke ends and to divide the blank into two wheel-forming sections, and then in bending each wheelforming section into circular form with the keystone ends engaging circumferentially.

The process of makin wheels from a metal blank having a wel which consists in punching two parallel rows of elongated apertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of apertures being spaced apart by a medial portion of the web, in progressively cutting from the medial portion of the web keystone inner ends for the spoke elements in order to separate the inner ends of the spokes and to divide the blank into two wheel-forming sections, in alternately bending the spoke' s'laterally in opposite directions, in bending each wheelforming section into circular form with the keystone portions engaging circumferentially, and in securing adjacent section ends I together. p

4. The rocess of making wheels from a blank having a web which consists in punching two parallel rows of elongated aper tures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of apertures being spaced apart by a medial portion of the web, in coining the edges of the apertures, in progressively cutting from the medial portion of the web keystone inner ends for the spoke elements in order to separate the inner ends of the spokes and to divide theblank into two wheel-forming sections, then in bending each wheel-forming section into circular form with the keystone portions engaging circumferentially, and in securing the adjacent ends of the sections together.

5. The process of making wheels from an I-beam which consists in punching two parallel rows ofapertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of apertures being spaced apart by a medial portion of the web, in cutting from the medial portion of the Web keystone inner ends for the spoke elements in order to separate the inner ends of the spokes and to divide the beam into two wheel-forming sections, in bending each section into circular form with the keystone ends engaging circumferentially, and in securing the adjacent ends of the flange of each section together.

6. The process of making wheels from an I-beam which consists in punching two parallel rows of apertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of'apertures being spaced apart by a medial portion of theweb, in coining the edges of the apertures, then in cutting progressively from 7. The process of making wheels from an I-beam which consists in punching two parallel rows of apertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of apertures being spaced apart'by a medial portion of the web, in cutting from the medial portion of the web keystone inner ends for the spoke elements in order to separate the 1nner ends of the spokes and to divide the beam into two wheel-forming sections, in quarter bending the ends of each section, and then in bending each-section into wheel form with the keystone ends engaging circumferentially.

8. The process of making wheels from an I beam which consists in punching two parallel rows of apertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows' of apertures being spaced apart by a medial por tion of the web, in cutting from the medial portion of the web keystone inner ends for the spoke elements in order to separate the inner ends of the spokes and to divide the beam into two wheel-forming sections, in quarter bending the ends of each section, in then bending each section into wheel form about the axis of a hub member with the keystone ends engaging circumferentially, and in securing the adjacent flange ends to gether.

9. The process of making wheels from an I-beam which consists in punching two parallel rows of apertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of apertures being spaced apart by a medial portion of the web, in cutting from the medial portion of the web keystone inner ends for 'the spoke elements in order to separate the inner ends of the spokes and to divide the beam into two wheel-forming sections, in alternately bending the spokes laterally in opposite di rections, in quarter bending the ends of each section, in then bending each section to wheel form about the axis of a hub member with the keystone ends engaging circumferentially in two spaced groups, and then in securing the adjacent flange ends together.

10. The process of making wheels from an I-beam which consists in punching two parallel rows of apertures in the web to provide spoke elements, said rows of apertures being spaced apart by a medial portion of the web, in progressively cutting from the Ymedial portion of the web keystone inner ends for the spoke elements in order to separate the inner ends of the spokes and to divide the beam into two wheel-forming sec tions, in alternately bending the spokes laterally in opposite directions, in quarter bending the ends of each section, in then bending each section into wheel form about the axis of a hub member with the keystone ends engaging vcircurnferentially in two spaced groups, and then in welding the adjacent ends together.

CHARLES sonnnon. LEWIS FINE. EMIL iBAcH. 

